Suspension type flooring for aircraft



Dec. 17, 1946. J. A KO SEK 2 1 ,77

SUSPENSION TYPE FLOORING FOR AIRCRAF T Fiied Dec. '18, 1944 4 sheets-shut 1 Dec. 17. 1946. J. A. KOSEK 2,412,778

SUSPENSION TYPE FLOORING FOR AIRCRAFT Dec. 17, 1946. .1. A. KOSEK I SUSPENSION TYPE FLOORING FOR AIRCRAFT 4 ShQets -Sheet 3 7 Filed Dec. 18, 1944 l VENT 21356 Dec. 17, 71946.

SUSPENSION TYPE FLOORING FOR AIRCRAFT Filed Dec. 18, 1944 4; Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Dee-17,1946 i l r 2,412,778

* A EN T QWE- Joseph- A. Kmk, Fort Worm-Ten, assailant I Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation, San

'niego caliit, acorporation ofDelaware I a y H ApplicatmnDecember is 1944, Serial Not 568,6il1

'I'heprejsent invention relates gne'rallytofloor' tures-which arehereinaftersset forth and are in'g. 1 Moreparticularly the invention relates to v more particularly defined by the claims at the that typeqoif flooring which is prim'arilydesigned conclusion hereon. v for usein an aircraft and comprises a'transversely In the drawings which accompany and form a e V s e e e v Figure Lisa fragmentary perspective of an air suspension'as well as in fspaced elation with the 10 plane fuselage having applied thereto 'aflooring subjacentportion .oithe'aircraft;

embodying one form of the invention;

. One obJect of the; invention is ,to provide an Figure 1a is an enlargedfragmentary p'erspecaircraft flooring or this type which islan improve-j l tive of one corner of the fiooring oi Figure 1; ment upon and has certain inherent'advantages Figure 2 isan end view; i over previously designed flooring for the same j Figure 3 is aplan view; 1 i v purpose and is characterized by the fact that it is Figure 41s a bottom view; I L f essentially of simple design and possesses an r Figure 5 is a side elevational view;v

s (an aircraft flooring inwhich the various com-W the V-shaped straps are connected to the top and arranged that the corrugations' of the panel place the straps under tension; may be made of minimum height and" width to Figure 8 is an end view of a fiooringembodying the end that the panel as awhole provides an another 'or modified form of the invention; and effective and eflicient tread surface. Another 0b,: Figure 9 ;is a bottom vievv of the ifflooring or ject of the 'invention is to provide an aircraft Figure 8; A l r I 7 also comprises a'series of spaced apart V shaped 3 connection with an airplanefuselage A. The

and the upper portions of the silli'orming side as well understood in the artythe stringers are which is imposed on the corrugated tread iojrmthereto The cross ribs a have across the bottom ing panel. a e portions thereof horizontal cross braces a which A further object of the invention is to provide 40 are horizontally aligned and have the ends thereof arr aircraft fiooring of the lastmentioned charfixedly secured to the cross ribs. 'I'heflooring o1 acter in which the sill-forming sidebeams beneath Figures 1 to 7, inclusive, overlies the cross braces the side margins of the corrugated tread forming a and comprises asits main er principal companel are in the form of ohannelbeams and are ponents a pair of sillormingv-channel beams Ill so positioned that the flanges thereof extend in- 5' a fiat plate H, a corrugated panel I 2, an interattached to their topfia'nges. e

A still further object 01 the invention is to and forms the floorofthe airplane fuselage A. provide an aircraft flooring which may be fabri- The channel beams ID are positioned in latercated orproduced with facility and at a low cost. 5 v lly spac d parallel relation and extend lengthof the cross extends between -portions of the ridges l8 are against transverse bending or across and web 20, an integral top central portion of the plate ll ,place by rivets .23. The

QFigures 1 and v2.

tom marginal nel beam 13. .Theends ofthe straps ll extend horizontally outwards, fit flatly against the bottom faces of the inwardly extending top flanges are secured in v II. .The holes in size and as shown in Fig es tending horizontal bottom flanges l1 along the a lower marginal portions of said webs. The bottom flanges ll of the sill-forming channel beams Ill flt against and are suitably secured to the ends braces a.

. The plate 1 i is rectangular so far as conformationis concerned and extendswise of the'airplane fuselage A.

the sill-forming channel beams the side margins therel and is arranged so that top .flanges l of the of rest directly upon the 7 said channel beams l0. Preferably the side edges of the plate ll and the outer faces of the webs channel beams is for the most ll of the plate Ii may be material.

The corrugated panel l2 overlies and'is coextensive with the plate H and embodies longitudinal series of spaced apart transversely extending ridges l8, 'and transversely extending grooves, i9.

the panel l2 which" form flat and the portions of the panel that deflne the bottoms of t e grooves are the fact that the ridges l2 forms the tread surface or partof the floor-.

It extends portion of The intermediate channel beamdepends from the central is disposed with the sill-forming .the plateil and and in parallel relation channel beams I!) that are gins of the plate H and the transversely corrugated'plate 12. It is formed of'any suitable light metal and comprises a vertically extending flange 2| and an integral top flange 2| of the beam fits flatly against the and is secured in bottom flange 22.;- The. I! extends-horizontally,

. extend,

the top flange 2 l the plate I I. panel l2. The bottom flange projects in the same direction as 2| andsis upwardly inclined as and the corrugated 22 of the beam it the top flange best shown in e V-shaped straps I! extend transversely of the airplane fuselage A, underlie the plate ii In; are coplanar. The. part imperforate and Y formed of any rigid light metal or other" between the ridges. Preferably the the tops of j beneath the side marltin clamped relation. The b shaped straps the . sembly of the on their lower ends. 1

midway between prises shanks of the rivets through aligned or registering holes in ,20 of the. r a I have the upper ends thereoffin abutment with- Asfshown in a and are spaced vequidistantly apart. They are vertically aligned with, and are substantially the same in Width as, the portions of the corrugated panel l2 that deflne certain of-the grooves; and are preferably formed of flat stock- Theapex or H underlie and abut against the lower or botportion of, the web of the chan- IB of thesill-formi'ng channel beams Ill, and .24. The bolts are. preferably arranged so that the headsareon the upper ends of the shanks. The shanks of the bolts 24 extend through holes 2!.in reinforcing plates 26, holes 21 in the corrugated panelv l.2,; holes 28 in the plate holes 29 in the top flanges it, of the channel beamslll. The reinforcing plates 26 are mounted on the ends of the portions of the corrugated light metal central portions of the straps versely extending Jacent longitudinally entending v V a bolted orotherwise'flxedly secured to the web;

vertical alignment. The lower ends of the shanks of the bolts 24 are provided with nuts 30 which together with the heads on the upper ends of the shanks serve to maintain the reinforcing plate 28 and the. rugated panel ii, the plate I l andthe top flanges 7 portions of the V- I! Q that I are directly inwards of ends of the straps are flat and horizontally with the ends of the straps prior to asfloorlng. They are anchored in means of vertically extending bolts ll best shown in Figures 65and of the drawings; the .bolts 3| are and the top flanges of the sillforming channel beams l0 and'are arranged so that the heads are on the upper ends of the shanks; The shanks of the through holes 32 in the innerends of the reinforcing plates and 35 which arefformed. respectively in .the subaligned place by portions ofthe corrugated panel plate II and the st'raps the nuts 86 are tightenedto with the result that the .portions' "f the. straps the interm dia'te; channel beam l3to exertan.

upward force on theplate Hand the corrugated panel l2 and hence counteract any load which is imposed on 'thecorrugated panel.. j I

the flooring of.,ligures,,l to 'l, inclusive, coma rectilinear sriescf spaced apart verstifleners 21.- number to and.

tically extending angle'bar type,

These stifieners. correspond in are associated respectively'with th l- -shaped legs 38' and intermediate the central portion of theplate II I. the drawings 4 bar stifleners'3l are mounted cnthe side of the web '20. that is] opposite. the side to which the flanges 2|. and 22 are connected. ,The translegs 39 of the stifleners 31 ex:

ftend'at right angles to thelongitudinally explace by vertically extending bolts ii and tending legs ing from the straps ll being 38 and hav'ethe lower ends thereof beveled or angled so that they abut directly against. thegsubjacent portions of the straps I4. The stiffeners 3 1 assist .the intermediate chan- 3 in transmitting to the plate H and the corrugated panel l2 the upward force resultunder tension. of Figures 1 to 7, inclusive, may bernade extremely light in weight while at tin same time it possesses maximum strength due-t1 the fact thatthe V-shapedstraps I! are unde: tension at all times and exert. on the corrugatel panel an upward force 'ino'ppositionto any low which is imposed on the corrugated panel. Be cause of the specific design, arrangement an construction of the-various componentparts th The flooring flooring is capable of being assembled with-fa 25, 21, 2B and 29 are the' same Band 7 are in may be produced at a low cost. fAl: because of the design andconstruction of tl parts thecorrugationsof the panel may 1 made of minimum height andwidth to the er subjacent portions of the cor located inwards of lts 3| extend 26 and registering holes 33,. 2| I2, the: j

By reason ll are under the drawings ll,"the corrugated panel connected together and a channel beam 43 under gitudinally fit within flange of the The ends of the inverted V-shaped straps are bent chored or bolted ends.

auagv'ra and eflicient tread surface. In view of the fact that the flooring has an extremely high strengthweight ratio the flooring may beused to exceptlonallygood advantage in aircraft construction.v a l The fiooring which is shown in Figure 8 of constitutes another form or embodiment of the invention. It is adapted to be used where a comparatively widetransverse span is encountered and comprises a pair of parallel laterally spaced longitudinally extending sillforming channel beams 40, a rectangular longitudinally extending plate 4|, a rectangular longitudinally extending corrugated panel 42, an intermediate channel beam '43, vertically extending stiifeners 44, a series of v-shaped straps 45,

41. The sill-forming channel beams 40, the plate 4|, the corrugated panel 42 andthe V-shaped '16 l Whereas the invention hasbeen described as a flooring for use in connection with aircraft it is to be understood that it has other capabilities of use. It is also to be understood that the invention isnot to be restricted tothe details set forth since these. maybe modified within the scope of the appended claims from the'spiritand scope of the invention.

Having thus described the Patent is:

rectangular corrugated panel invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters 1. A suspension type flooring comprising a pair of laterally spaced parallel horizontally extending sill-forming beams adapted tolbe mounted in fixed relation with asupporting structure, a

I, tudinally of and across thebeams and having a corresponding series of inverted V-shaped straps 46 and apair of secondary channelbeams straps 45 are the same as the beams ill, the plate straps ll of the flooring elusive, except that they of Figures 1 to 7. in

manner as the corresponding parts of the fioorl2 and the V-shaped are larger. They are arranged in the same operatein the same manner. The intermediate 1' es and extends lengthwise of the central portion of the plate 4| End is of less height than the central or intermediate portions 'of the V-shaped straps 45. Thevertito andare associated respectively with the straps They embody longitudinallyextending legs The upper ends upwards and fit flatly against the portions of the straps 45 that are directly inwards of the anbeams 47 are disposed beams 40 and overlie the upwardly bent ends of the inverted V-shaped straps 46. They are arranged so that the top andbottom flanges thereof project or face outwards and have their top flanges bolted or otherwise fixedly secured to of the plate 4| and the corrugated panel 42. The bottom flanges of the secondary channel beams 41 are bolted to 'the the superjacent portions and'transversely extending legs and have anglejbracket type feet 48 at their lower ends. ofvthe longitudinally extending legs of the still- ;eners 44 arebolted to the web of directly against 44 serve to impart the upward 1 callysextending 'stifieners 44 are in the former 1 anglebars and correspond in number portion of the corrugated panel,

manner that the the side margins thereof connected to the upper portions ofthe beams and its corrugations exate beamdisposed equidistantly. between and in tending transversely of said beams, an intermediparallel relation with the sill forming beams;-

nal series of spaced apart transverselyextending one-piece fiat metal V-shaped straps disposed beneath the corrugated 7 panel and having the' apex portions thereof in and their ends connected to the junctures of the side margins of the corrugated panel; and the upper portions of the sill-forming beams in-such straps are at alltimes under tension and exert upward force on the corrugated panel through said intermediate -beam 2. A suspenslontype flooring comprising a pair of laterally spaced parallel horizontally extending sill-forming beams adapted to be mounted in nxedrelation with a supporting structure and having inwardly extending flanges along. their upper margins, a rectangular corrugated panel The secondary channel l directly inwards of and r in parallel relation with the sill-forming channel upwardly bent ends of the inverted V-shaped straps 46 and straps 45.

the subjacent portions of the The flooring of Figure 8 like that of Figures 1 l to 7, inclusive,

produced with facility and at slow cost.

possesses an extremely high strength-weight ratio and may be fabricated or extending longitudinallyof and across the beams and having the side margins thereof overlying and connected to the beamflanges and its corrugations extending transversely of said beams, lon-.'

gitudinally extending structural means connected to, and depending from, the central portion of the corrugated panel, a longitudinal series of spaced apart transversely extending one-piece fiat metal straps having the central portions thereof in underlying and abutting relation with the bottom portion of said structural means and their ends fitting against and fixedly connected to the bottom faces of said beam flanges, and clamp means straps that aredirectly inwards of the strap ends and arranged so as to deflect and distort said last mentioned applied to the portions of the portions upwards into the plane ofsaid flanges and cause the straps to beunder tension at all times and to exert upward force on the corrugated panel through said structuralmeans.

3. A suspension type flooring comprising a pair of laterally spaced parallel horizontally extending v I sill-forming beams adapted to be mounted in fixed relation] with a supporting structure and j provided along their upper margins with inwardly extending-flanges, a rectangular corrugated panel extending lengthwise of and across the beams and having the side margins thereof overlying and connected to the beam flanges and its corrugations extending transversely of said beams, a single intermediate beam disposed midway be-.

without departing extending longiunderlying and abutting relation with said flange .of the intermediate beam we and ing beams and connected to, and depending from; the central portion of the corrugated beam, a

longitudinal-series of spaced apart transversely extending I v V-'-shaped strapsdisposed beneath the corrugated panel and having the apex portions thereoi inunderlying and abutting relation with thebottom margin of the intermediate beam and their end the corrugated paneland arranged so as to deflect and distort saidlast mentioned portions up I wards into the plane or said flanges and cause the straps exert to be under tension at all times and to 4; Asuspension type flooring comprising'a pair wvardly extending coplanar flanges, a flat rectangular plate extending longitudinally oi. and

across the connectedto the plate, an intermediate beam disposed midway between with the sill-forming .beams and connected to, V and depending from, the central portion of the plate, a longitudinal series of spaced aparttr'ans- 'as straps, connected to the other side face of the intermed ia-te beam and having the upper ends terversely extending' one-piece flat metal v -shaped yr straps disposed beneath the plate and having the 1 A apex portions thereof in underlying and abutting -relation with'the bottom margin of'"the intermediate beam and their ends fitting flatly against and connected flxedly to the bottom faces of I said beam;;flanges,-'and boltsextending through the portions of the straps that are immediately inwardsofthe strap endsandthe'superjacent portions of the plate and corrugated panel and tight- .ened to such an extent that they cause upward deflection-and distortion of said portions of the straps into the plane of said beam, flanges and result in the straps being at all times under tension and exerting an upward force on the central portions of the plate and panel through the medium of said intermediate beam.

5. A suspension type flooring comprising a pair of laterally spaced parallel substantially horizon- ,talisillrforming beams adapted to bemounted a in flxed relation witha' supporting structure, a rectangular corrugated panel extending across and lengthwise of the beams and having the side margins thereof mounted on the upper portions oi the beams and its corrugations extending transversely ofsai'd beams, aninterme'diate. beam disposed midway between and in parallel rela- ,tion' with the sill-forming beams. and connected to, and-depending from, the central portion of the corrugated panel, a longitudinal series or spaced apart transversely extending V-shaped straps disposed beneath the corrugated panel and p having the'apex portions thereof in underlying and abutting relation with the lower margin of theintermediate beam and their ends con- -nected to the junctures of the side margins of the corrugated panel and the upper .portions of: the sill-forming beams in such manner that the straps are at all times under tension and exert, upward force on the corrugated panel through said intermediate beam, and a series oi vertically in parallel relation with the sill-tormfitting flatly against and connectedv 'flxedly to thebottom-faces of said beam flanges;

and clamp means extending between the pore tions '01 the straps that are immediatelyinwards of the strap ends and the superjacentportion's of p pward forcev on the corrugated panel through said intermediate beam.

beams and having the side margins thereof connected to the beam flanges, a coextensive rectangular corrugated panel mounted on and and-in parallel relation extending stifleners corresponding in number to and associated respectively with thestraps, connected-to the intermediatebeam, and having the QIOWQt-QIIdSlhBIBQf in abutment with said-apex. g portions oi sald'straps. 1

, 6. A suspension typ flooring comprisinga pair I oilaterally spaced parallel substantially'horizontal sill-forming beams. adapted to be, mounted in \flx'ed relation with a supportlngstructu'raa rectangular corrugated panel. extending across and lengthwise of the beamsfland having the side marginspthereoimounted on the upper portions or the beams and its corrugations extending transversely oi'said'beams, an intermediate beam disposed midway between and i in parallel relation with the sill-forming beams, connected to. I y and depending from,

, corrugated panel, andembodying along, its bot-1 1 "tom'margin a full length flange proiectingirom I oneside face 01 the intermediate beam only and I inclined upwardaa longitudinal series of spaced apart transversely extending one-piece flatrnetal v-shaped straps disposed beneath thecorrug'ated panel and having the apex portions thereof in underlying and abutting relation with the flange V oi. the intermediatebeam andtheir-ends connected to the junctures oi the side margins of the corrugated panel and the upper portions of straps ,are at all times under tension and exert upward force; on the corrugated panel through fsaidintermediatebeam, and a" series of vertically extending angle bar stifleners corresponding in numbertovand associated respectively with the 11 minating adjacent the central portionrof the corrugated panel and-the lower ends inabutment withsaid apex portions of said straps;

4 0 7, A suspension typeflooring comprising a pair of laterally spaced parallel substantially. horizon ,tal sill-forming beams adapted to be mounted in ilxed felation with a supporting structure, a

.. corrugated panel extending. across the beams and 5 having the side marginsthereoi. mounted on the upper portions of the beams and its corrugations extending-transversely of said beams, an'intere mediate beam disposed midway between,"and in parallel relationwith, the sill-forming beams and connected to, and depending. from, the central portion of the corrugatedpanel, a longitudinal series oispaced apart transversely extending onepiece V-shaped straps disposed beneaththe corrugated panel and having the apex portions thereof in underlying and abutting relation with the lower margin of said intermediate beamand their ends connected to the junctures of the side marginsof the corrugated panel and the upper portions of the beams .in such manner that the straps are at all times undertension and-exert the central portion or the ithesill-forming beams in such manner that said 8. A suspension type flooring comprising a pair of laterallyspaced parallel horizontally extend ing sill-forming beams adapted to be mounted in fixed relation with a supporting structure, a

rectangular corrugated panel extending longitudinally of and across the beams and having nected to the junctures of the side margins of the corrugated panel and the sill-forming beams.

9. A suspension type flooring comprising a pair of laterally spaced substantially horizontal parallel sill-forming beams fixed relation with a supporting structure, a rectangular corrugated panel extending across and lengthwise of the beams and having the side margins thereof mounted on the upper portions of the beams and its corrugations extending transversely of said beams, an intermediate beam disposed midwaybetween and in parallel relation with the sill-forming beams, connected to, and depending from, the central portion of the coruppe portions of the I rugated panel, and embodying along its bottom corrugated panel. and embodying adapted to be mounted in piece flat metal margin 9. full length flange projecting from one side face of the intermediate beam only and inclined upwards, a longitudinal series of spaced apart transversely extending one-piece flat metal V-shaped straps disposed beneath the corrugated panel and having the apex portions thereof in underlying and abutting relation with said flange of the intermediate beam and their ends connumber to and associated nected to the junctures of the side margins of the corrugated panel and the upper portions of the sill-forming beams, and a series of vertically extending angle bar stineners corresponding in respectively with the straps, connected to the other side face of the intermediate beam, and and having the lower ends thereof in abutment with said apex portions of said straps.

10. A suspension type flooring comprising a pair of laterally spaced parallel substantially horizontal sill-forming'beams adapted to be mounted in fixed relation with a supporting structure, a corrugated panel extending across the beams and having the side margins thereof mounted on the upper portions of extending transversely of said beams, an intermediate beam disposed midway between, and in parallel relation with, the sill-forming beams and connected to, anddepending from, the central portion of the corrugated panel, a longitudinal series of spaced apart transversely extending one- V-shaped straps disposed beneath the corrugated panel and having the apex portions thereofin underlying and'abutting relation with the lower margin of said intermediate beams and their ends connected to the iunctures or the side margins of the corrugated panel and the upper portions 01' the beams, and a corresponding longitudinal series, of spaced apart transversely extending one-piece flat metal inverted V-shaped straps associated respectively with the V-shapedstraps portions thereof disposed beneath the central portion of said corrugated panel'and overlying and directly engagingthe upper margin of said intermediate beam and their ends connectedto said V-shaped straps inwards of the letters ends.

.rosnrn A. xosnx.

the beams and its corrugations and having the apex 

